Shoes to Shiraz Self Care Series: Meditation

I don't know about you, but the louder and busier my life gets, the stronger my desire is to pull back and seek a place of peace and calm. Thankfully my friend Dawn, owner of ClubMynx in Saskatoon invited me to a teaser class of her meditation series, so I grabbed Abbie (Grumbling Grace) and we set out to find our calm. And no, wine wasn't involved.

Just by walking into the space that Dawn created you felt at ease- there are comfortable adjustable floor chairs and a peaceful ambiance created by the flicker of candles and soft music. The group was small and was perfect for those (me) feeling a little nervous about meditating in a group setting.

Dawn led us through a guided meditation with her soothing voice that had us walking through nature, hearing the birds and floating on the clouds. Actually, at one point I thought I was going to start to float as I was so relaxed and deep into her instructions. The 30 minutes was the perfect amount of time for me to be able to concentrate on what she was saying without getting distracted by all the other things I had to accomplish that day.

At the end of the guided meditation, she had us go deeper into a personal quiet zone, repeating the mantra "Aham Brahmasmi" which is a Sanskrit Mantra that means that the core of our being is the ultimate reality, the root and ground of the universe, the source of all that exists. At that point in the meditation, I didn't use the mantra as I was so far in a zone that I was able to maintain my focus. Interestingly, talking to Abbie after, she started repeating "Be still and know that I am God" instead of the mantra. I think that's one of the cooler things about meditation- it can be made to resemble whatever your spiritual practice is.

I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to take the time out of my day to practice this form of self care. Since then, I have been making an effort to find at least 15 mins a day to meditate and I have to say that the days that it doesn't happen roll out quite differently than those that are started in such a grounding practice.

When I worked in oncology I got my certification in guided imagery and meditation - it was a tremendous help to my patients. It's such a special practice and works wonders for young and old. Looks like you had a great experience!xo,Kellyann

So, I really need something like this in my life and the 30 min. doesn't scare me, seems a reasonable amount of time. I really woswI could commit but my schedule is unpredictable at times 😔. What do you do for the guided meditation on your own? I will pass this info on to a friend that would really benefit her.

About me

I am a proud Canadian, hailing from the Prairies, in a province that is hard to spell but easy to draw: Saskatchewan. My biggest loves in my life are my family, because that’s the right answer. Other possible answers to that question are beer and clam on a hot summer’s night, cheering on the Blue Jays, hanging out with my spicy friends and masterfully puppeteering my way around the many projects I take on. Sometimes witty, sometimes sassy and always cussy, yet on the occasion I’ll pen something thoughtful, join me as I document my way through life and try not to embarrass my family.